BEVERLY, Mass. -- Second-seeded Rhode Island College eliminated sixth-seeded Bridgewater State, 7-2, in game six of the 2009 NCAA Softball Division III New England Regional Tournament hosted by Endicott this afternoon.
The Anchorwomen (41-6) advance to face Coast Guard tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM in an elimination game (Game 9). RIC tied the 2007 squad's program record for wins in a season with the victory. The Bears end the season with a record of 28-11.
Sophomore second baseman Amanda Perry (New Bedford, MA) went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, two homers and six RBI, bringing her season total to 39, which breaks the RIC single season record she established in 2008. Perry and classmate first baseman Chelsi Panarelli's (Shrewsbury, MA), who also went yard in the contest, are now tied for the program record for homers in a season with seven. Panarelli went 2-for-4 in the win.
Sophomore pitcher Amanda Berard (Swansea, MA) allowed just one hit with eight strikeouts in five innings en route to recording her 15th (15-2) win.
Rhode Island College took a 2-0 led in the third inning and never looked back. Sophomore shortstop Donielle Mattoon (Coventry, RI) led off with a double and came across on Perry's blast over the left field fence.
The Anchorwomen put the game out of reach with a five-run fourth. Panarelli led off with a solo shot. Senior left fielder Kelli McCartin (Cranston, RI) and freshman third baseman Cristina Bailey (Londonderry, NH) each reached on a fielder's choice and Mattoon singled to load the bases. Perry's two out grand slam sealed the victory.
Mattoon went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to help the Anchorwomen's offense. Sophomore pitcher Melanie Neece (Westfield, MA) came on to pitch the sixth and seventh.
The Bears put two across in the bottom of the seventh off of Neece as senior shortstop Rachael Sprague (Duxbury, MA) walked and senior third baseman Stacy Capodiece (East Lyme, CT) singled. After an out, junior Meghan Noyes (Stoughton, MA) reached on an error to load the bases. Sophomore catcher Bridget Engwer (Wrentham, MA) then popped up to first as the Anchorwomen easily had Sprague doubled off third. However, the throw to third was wild allowing two runs to score. Neece settled down, however, getting a ground out to short to end the game.
Sprague went 1-for-2 with a walk, while Capodiece finished 1-for-3.
Senior pitcher Alyssa Verronneau (Acushnet, MA) suffered the loss (14-6) for the Bears. Classmate Stephanie Pierce (Worcester, MA) came on after Panarelli's leadoff homer in the fourth and worked the final four innings.